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Click on this SoundCloud link to listed to an audio recording of today's blog.
"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith-- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:6-7 English Standard Version
The Colorado Springs community has seen devastating wildfires in the past thirteen years. The Hayman fire burned over 138,000 acres of land in 2002. The Waldo Canyon fire of 2012 was much smaller than the Hayman fire but was for more costly with insurance claims of over $450 million. The last of the three fires was the Black Forest fire in 2013 which consumed 509 homes.
Tragedy itself is nothing new. In 365 AD an earthquake leveled Alexandria, Egypt killing an estimated 50,000 people. The city of Pompeii was covered in the volcanic ash of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD killing an unknown number of people. It's believed that China's Communist leader, Mao Zedong, slaughtered 45 million people in four years.
How could a loving God permit these kinds of tragedies?
This is an important question that becomes even more personal when we personally experience tragedies. How could a loving God permit cancer? How can a loving God keep us from having a child? How can a loving God let me be without work?
How could a loving God permit his Son to die? Jesus himself cried, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"
Yet, it is in those words of abandonment from the cross that we find hope. Tragedies are a reality. The question is not, "Can I live a life without suffering?" but "How can I live life in the midst of suffering?"
In the forsakenness of the cross, we know that we will never be forsaken by God even in the most gut wrenching situations of life. In the midst of tragedy we have a promise that after the life shaping experiences of pain we will one day see Jesus and know that he has brought us safely to his Father's side.
"My God, My God" thank you for experiencing hell that I might experience life.
Tragedy itself is nothing new. In 365 AD an earthquake leveled Alexandria, Egypt killing an estimated 50,000 people. The city of Pompeii was covered in the volcanic ash of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD killing an unknown number of people. It's believed that China's Communist leader, Mao Zedong, slaughtered 45 million people in four years.
How could a loving God permit these kinds of tragedies?
This is an important question that becomes even more personal when we personally experience tragedies. How could a loving God permit cancer? How can a loving God keep us from having a child? How can a loving God let me be without work?
How could a loving God permit his Son to die? Jesus himself cried, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"
Yet, it is in those words of abandonment from the cross that we find hope. Tragedies are a reality. The question is not, "Can I live a life without suffering?" but "How can I live life in the midst of suffering?"
In the forsakenness of the cross, we know that we will never be forsaken by God even in the most gut wrenching situations of life. In the midst of tragedy we have a promise that after the life shaping experiences of pain we will one day see Jesus and know that he has brought us safely to his Father's side.
"My God, My God" thank you for experiencing hell that I might experience life.
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You can listen to the Praying With the Eyes broadcast on The iB Network Internet radio station every Sunday at 8:00 & 11:30 am, as well as, 1:00 & 8:00 pm MDT (www.ibnetwork.us). You can also listen to the show using the Tunin app on your mobile device.
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Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2015 Douglas P. Brauner. ARR.
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